Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Community History.
BY JIM COCHRUN It was 1954, I was 14 and we were living in Naples. At the time, Naples had a population of 1,500 people. As a typical small town, everyone knew each other. My father had a close friend named Corky who operated the local dry-cleaning business. One Saturday Corky invited both Dad and […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
On Saturday, this paper had a visit from a family who had been photographed and included in our publication the previous week. They wanted to get some extra copies of the paper. They came up to the office to see us, as so many of you do. The daughter wanted to tell us – as […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Gasparilla Island residents, as well as two attorneys, came out to the Tuesday morning Lee County Board of County Commissioners meeting to speak to a proposed parking discussion that was coming before the board. It was not on the agenda. Michael Whitt, an attorney for Hahn Loeser, came on behalf of Lighthouse United Methodist and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Events, News.
All that Jazz featured Dixieland Jazz to a packed house at the Boca Grande Community Center with the Don Mopsick Ensemble. Don Mopsick, bass; Ed Metz, drums; Allan Vache, clarinet; Davy Jones, cornet; Herb Bruce, trombone; and Bob Leary, guitar. Photo by Cheryl
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education, News, Sports & Outdoors.
March brings gorgeous weather and increased users on the GICIA Bike Path. Working to provide a safe and fun experience for all users, the GICIA has once again partnered with The Island School’s fifth graders in a project planned to heighten safety awareness in a fun and creative way. This week, the GICIA installed the […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Real Estate, Society.
‘80s vintage, plus a few alligator bags Ready for the return of the Bermuda bag? The Stylish Sloane, Suzy Smith, is Texas collector and fashion stylist and seller who has made a specialty of vintage bags, and was visiting here on island. She was here this week for a trunk show at The Gasparilla Inn. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured News, News.
The Boca Grande Art Center will present its first exhibit of the season, made possible by the generosity of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and Italiano Insurance. It will be hosted at the church’s Chapter House at 390 Gilchrist Ave. The show will feature new works by 18 island artists, including fine woodworking, ceramics and both […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
Lee County staff has no plan for a county sponsored “community panel” for Boca Grande, modeled on Captiva. “This is not in the works for Boca Grande and is not being discussed at a staff level,” said Betsy Clayton, the county’s public information officer, in an email to the Beacon Wednesday. There have been some […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, News.
The March/April edition of the Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Magazine is out now with new feature stories, recipes and shopping. Featured stories include a mysterious Gilded-Age death in Punta Gorda, a collection of letters dating back to the 1920s, the poem “Identity” by Carol Sundberg, a history of the Snowbirds of Yesterday, an informative article […]
Written by Susan Hanafee on . Posted in Opinion.
The Art Center on our little island in Southwest Florida was hard hit by back-to-back hurricanes last fall. The hardwood floors had to be replaced as well as some drywall. Now the county, which owns the building, reportedly wants to put down carpet as the new flooring. “Carpet?!” I said when my friend told me […]